Demand Planner

Overview

The Demand Planner supports customer demand requirements for both OEM and non-OEM production and service products. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Performance & Planning, this role collaborates with internal stakeholders and suppliers to improve forecasting accuracy, align supply with demand, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.

This position requires strong analytical skills, forecasting expertise, and the ability to coordinate effectively across multiple functions to ensure product availability while optimizing inventory, service levels, and operational efficiency.

• Demand Planning & Forecasting
  • Gather, analyze, and interpret data to support dynamic customer demand requirements, including marketing activities, promotions, new product introductions, lifecycle changes, seasonality, and special projects.
  • Develop, maintain, and improve demand forecasts to enhance forecast accuracy and business performance.
  • Review historical sales trends, identify demand drivers, develop statistical forecasting models, and evaluate forecast results.
• Supply Planning & Inventory Management
  • Align supply plans with production and demand forecasts while considering supplier capabilities, manufacturing constraints, logistics requirements, and lead times.
  • Analyze and coordinate replenishment activities to maximize customer service levels while minimizing inventory, logistics costs, and order-to-receipt cycle times.
  • Make purchasing decisions within established policies based on inventory levels, sales expectations, lead times, minimum order requirements, production capacity, shelf life, and collaborative forecasts.
  • Manage product allocation during supply constraints while ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Process Improvement & Collaboration
  • Identify opportunities to improve planning, forecasting, allocation, and replenishment processes.
  • Review business processes and recommend enhancements related to ERP systems and supply chain operations.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to support product launches, end-of-life transitions, and product lifecycle management while balancing sales objectives and inventory risk.
  • Participate in cross-functional initiatives to resolve variances, improve operational outcomes, and refine forecasting methodologies.
• Reporting & Analytics
  • Develop, maintain, and enhance reports that summarize planning, forecasting, inventory, and operational performance.
  • Query, analyze, and present data in a clear and actionable manner using reporting and business intelligence tools.
  • Support decision-making through data-driven insights and performance analysis.
  • Maintain reliable and consistent on-site attendance.
  • Participate in local and remote meetings, presentations, and collaborative activities.
  • Occasionally work outside normal business hours to support operational requirements.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of supply chain, demand planning, inventory management, forecasting, or related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Technical Skills

• Experience with SAP S/4
  
  HANA or similar ERP systems.
• Experience maintaining Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and/or Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) systems.
• Strong understanding of forecasting methodologies, statistics, and supply chain operations.
• Proficiency in advanced Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with SQL, Power BI, Tableau, or similar analytics tools preferred.

Preferred Certifications

• APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certificate.